Niagara Gazette

Crime

September 2, 2010

Motorcyclist leads cops on dangerous South End chase

Staff Reports Niagara Gazette

NIAGARA FALLS — A 12th Street man faces numerous charges, including three counts of second-degree attempted assault for nearly driving into two cops and ramming a police vehicle, after a chase through the city’s South End late Wednesday afternoon.

Reports say David Hoffman, and another man were in front of a 27th Street home about 4:45 p.m. Wednesday and sped off when detectives approached.

Minutes later, reports began coming in to police headquarters of a man on a green motorcycle traveling more than 80 mph on various streets in the South End.

Roving Anti-Crime Unit Officer Rick Fleck spotted Hoffman, on the green motorcycle, exiting the parking lot of Tops on Portage Road and began following him.

Hoffman turned onto Ferry Avenue, and while waiting in traffic for a red light, hopped onto the sidewalk and drove at two Falls officers who had spotted him and left their patrol cars, hoping to take him into custody while at the light. As Hoffman drove at them, the two officers drew their guns and were ordering him to stop but had to jump out of the way as he sped down the sidewalk at them.

Fleck, still in his car, continued his pursuit as Hoffman drove through a gas station parking lot at 19th and Ferry, turning into the 400 block alley between 19th and 20th.

Fleck said Hoffman almost lost control of his bike and stalled out when he hit a patch of gravel, allowing Fleck to pull his unmarked police car in front of Hoffman.

As Fleck exited his vehicle, he said he heard Hoffman rev the cycle’s engine and saw Hoffman pop the clutch, sending the bike into the driver’s side of the police car.

Hoffman again sped down the alley with Fleck once again in pursuit and turned east on Niagara Street, weaving in between several other vehicles, nearly striking several, and drove through a red light at Niagara Street and Hyde Park Boulevard, heading toward Porter Road.

As he neared Packard Road, Hoffman either fell from the bike or wrecked it as Fleck said Hoffman was on foot running toward Hyde Park Boulevard when he caught up to him.

Hoffman was eventually tackled and taken into custody while trying to climb a fence on the 3200 block of Web Place.

Hoffman, 32, 419 12th St., faces numerous criminal and traffic charges including three counts of second-degree attempted assault, third-degree criminal mischief and unlawfully fleeing from police.

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